NEW Apple AirPods 5 (2026) vs Apple AirPods 4 and 4 ANC – FINALLY They Added… Swipes? 😂

On September 9, Apple introduced new open-fit true wireless earbuds – AirPods 5, without silicone ear tips. The main innovation is improved and publicly available active noise cancellation. And while in the 4th generation ANC only works in the higher-end version of the Apple AirPods 4 ANC – reviewed on MyChooz – the 5th generation has the feature working in both the base and higher-end versions. Yes, just like the previous generation, two versions of Apple AirPods 5 were presented for $129 and $149.

Difference between the $129 and $149 AirPods 5 versions

There’s no difference in naming between the versions. The $149 AirPods 5 comes with a charging case that supports wireless charging and has a speaker, offers 5 hours of battery life (up from 4), and lets you control volume with swipe gestures on the earbuds. The $129 AirPods 5, meanwhile, gets you noise cancellation, which wasn’t even in the base AirPods 4.

😂 Seriously, who’s better at selling air than Apple? What was a deliberate *lack* of swipe volume controls on the AirPods 4 is now a ‘feature’ on the $149 AirPods 5. It’s a basic function you can find on $40 earbuds from China. What do you think about this? Let me know in the comments.

Noise Cancellation

Active noise cancellation and transparency mode are where Apple earbuds truly shine. They’re right up there with the best from Bose, Sony, and Sennheiser. This year, Samsung also joined the top tier with their Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, which boast ANC on par with the leaders and reference-level transparency. If we’re talking *only* open-fit earbuds for ANC and transparency, my pick for the best in our top open-fit earbuds list remains the AirPods 4 ANC. It even rivals top in-ear models for noise cancellation, and its transparency mode is as good as it gets. Plus, not all open-fit earbuds even offer transparency mode.

Apple claims the AirPods 5 will deliver 1.5x better noise cancellation than the AirPods 4 ANC, thanks to new algorithms and a redesigned acoustic chamber. The H2 chip inside the earbuds remains the same. Remember, both the standard and premium AirPods 5 models get active noise cancellation and transparency mode, plus automatic transparency mode activation when you’re talking.

Sound

The sound system is unchanged, still using the same dynamic driver. Apple did redesign the acoustic chamber, though. Based on my experience with the Apple AirPods Pro 3, where they did the same thing compared to the Pro 2, I expect the sound to change. Whether it’s for better or worse will be clear in the full review. We’ve seen some great acoustic chamber redesigns this year, like with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4, and some less successful ones, such as the Realme Buds Air 8 Pro. And no, to answer a common question, the sound in Realme earbuds hasn’t changed since their release.

You still get Spatial Audio with head tracking and personalized sound tuning, but naturally, all these features are exclusive to iOS.

Features

Both AirPods 5 versions support live and synchronous translation. Last year, only the higher-end AirPods 4 ANC had this feature.

Apple says the Siri voice assistant will be “smarter,” likely tying into their new AI push with Apple Intelligence. With the AirPods 5, you’ll be able to summon Siri just by speaking, no extra tap needed. This requires iOS 27 and an iPhone 15 Pro Max, 15 Pro, or iPhone 16 or newer that supports Apple Intelligence.

You’ll also find faster pairing across all your devices signed into your account. Switching between devices is supposed to be seamless and smooth – just bring the earbuds near an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV to connect.

The Find My app will let you track your earbuds and alert you if they leave Bluetooth range. The premium version also adds the ability to locate your earbuds by sound, thanks to the speaker in the charging case.

Battery Life

Battery life gets a boost: the standard $129 model now lasts 6 hours (up from 5), and the $149 model gets 7 hours (up from 5). With ANC on, the standard version offers 4 hours of listening and 20 hours total with the case, while the premium version gives you 5 hours and 22 hours total. Wireless charging is included, but only on the premium model.

Design

The design of the earbuds and charging case looks pretty much the same. The dust and water resistance rating has improved from IP54 to IP57, making them more resistant to moisture. The premium version earbuds also include a force sensor and volume control.

Price and Availability

The standard version remains $129, the same as last year. The premium version drops to $149, which is $30 less than the previous generation. They go on sale September 18, with pre-orders open now.

What do you think of the new AirPods 5? Let me know in the comments. I’ll definitely be buying a pair for review, and I’d really appreciate any support through engagement or a donation.